Monika Amunyela

The budget allocation for youth development under the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has increased by N$70.6 million, bringing the total to N$750 million for the 2025/26 financial year. 

The funding forms part of the ministry’s broader N$83.6 billion Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for the 2026/27 to 2028/29 financial years, recently announced by the government. The allocation will support programmes aligned with youth empowerment, national service initiatives, operational costs and other development efforts.

In the 2024/25 financial year, the sector received approximately N$679.4 million, representing a 45% increase over the previous year’s allocation.  The additional funding at the time was directed toward youth programmes, development initiatives and other support mechanisms aimed at improving opportunities for young people. 

Within that allocation, N$257 million has been allocated to the National Youth Development Fund, and N$301 million has been earmarked for youth development and training. Chairperson of the National Youth Council of Namibia (NYC), Patience Masua, welcomed the increase, saying it signals recognition of the importance of youth development in national planning. 

“I think the budget reflects the 8th administration’s priorities in a very real way, and I welcome the recognition that youth development must be funded as a strategic pillar of our national progress,” she said.

However, Masua stressed that the increased allocation must be intentionally distributed into targeted programmes that directly benefit young people, such as employment pathways, innovative initiatives, entrepreneurship ecosystems, participation in governance and peace-building processes. 

“Youth development as a field has unique needs that require dedicated attention that forms the core mandate of the NYC, ranging from skills development, entrepreneurship support, and civic engagement,” she said.

She noted that youth priorities are also reflected in the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), but the impact of the allocation will depend on how well the funds are implemented. This will require policy designs that work practically, partnerships with the private sector, civil society and multilateral institutions. 

“If the budget is used to expand and strengthen youth employment programmes, facilitate access to seed funding, and scale skills development initiatives, then it can make a meaningful difference,” shared the youth leader. -mamunyela@nepc.com